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Friday, June 28, 2013

Harrington, can you believe Mama actually wants us to work this weekend? I mean she got back from Chicago on Monday and has been working like a crazy bunny ever since.

I think it's time for the "super cute factor." You know she can't handle it when we look super cute.

Oh yeah. This will get her.

This one will too. Our work is complete. Now we can nap all weekend.

Hoppy Friday! Please join us back here Monday to see O'Ryan the Stargazer. He's the last project in Fabled Fusions. Don't forget our pre-order special. You will receive a 20% discount if you pre-order/pay for the book now! Hop over HERE to read more. Offer good through July 15.

Well hi ya! I made it back from Chicago in one piece. Boy oh boy what a totally fun adventure!
Chicago is an amazing town. So much to see and do. My best friend of 33 years Beth, was with me. We learned to navigate the train system. I must say, if there was a hidden camera somewhere, the folks watching us were probably peeing their pants with laughter! Let's just say, "country came to town." In fact, at one point a $20 bill flew out at me from a ticket machine! It was the closest I have ever come to winning the lottery! hee,hee,hee.

I had the most wonderful time teaching my Folk Art Fusion (TM) flower. I made lots of new friends!

Here I am on Friday teaching my first class. The cute lady, in the fabulous quilted jacket, to the left of the photo is my friend dear friend Sharon. She drove all the way from Pennsylvania to meet me! She even brought her darling sister Mary Ellen. I was so excited to hug their necks! :) :) :)

Look what Sharon made me! Hannah and Harrington mug rugs! Sweeeeeeeeeeet! She used a razzle dazzle thread in the bobbin. It makes the stitching look so cool! Thank you Sharon! You and Mary Ellen made my day!

Of course, back home in Bunnyville, this is what the employees were doing while I was away. Yep, napping. Lots and lots of napping.

I made some new friends at Open Studios. Hi to Joan doing the Harrington and Hannah blocks! I know the perfect little, sprite of a girl will come your way! Keep me posted!

I also got to meet my friend and fellow designer, Missie Carpenter! Uhhhh....Missie? Why didn't we take a darn photo???? Oh that's right, we were too busy eating pizza and talking about menopause! hee,hee,hee. Missie and her friend Renee, drove from Iowa to meet me. We all went out for dinner. It was so awesome!

One of the biggest highlights of my trip was meeting the incredible, fabulous, and oh so very sweet, Pokey Bolton of Quilting Arts TV. Pokey is also the Creative Director for the International Quilt Festivals. (Isn't it cool how our outfits look so good together?) Her fun artwork is on the wall behind us.

I've been a quilter since 1989. In 2005 I fell in love with art quilting and it's all because of Pokey. I made my first ATC (Artist Trading Card) and it was published in her book. Major happy bunny dancing there!

As usual in my life, there is always some kinda crazy crap that happens to me. It really is never smooth sailing. This trip it was gloves. Yep gloves. See those gloves in the plastic bag I'm pointing to? Well, as I was unpacking my suitcase, I found those in my UNDERWEAR compartment!!!!!! Eeewwwwwwwww!!! Dirty work gloves in a plastic bag in my underwear! I admit, I did the heeby geeby gross out dance for a few seconds. Then I kinda laughed as I thought to myself, did you not see all the quilts and fabric and threads in my suite case? Do you really think I would have Victoria Secret fancy underwear? Heck man! These suckers are from Walmart! After that I kinda freaked out again thinking of a guy who thought Walmart, boring underwear was sexy. Heeby geeby gross out dance ensued again.

Well now, let's move onto something a little more pleasant shall we? Alrighty! Between now and July 15th I am having a PRE-ORDER DISCOUNT OF 20% ON MY BOOK! All you have to do is send me an email saying you want to pre-order. I will send you a paypal invoice (or you can send a check) and you will get the book for 20% off. The book will then be mailed to you in mid October.

The 20% discount is only available until July 15th, so send me an email and I'll put you on the list. There are 10 fun Folk Art Fusion (TM) projects for you to play with.

Thanks Chicago Quilt Festival, Pokey, Kim, Jill and the entire staff. I had a blast! It was a dream come true to teach there.

It's back to work for me. I have some fun, new designs hopping around in my head. More on those soon.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Hi there! I hope you are having a fun week so far. I'm running around like a crazy bunny trying to finish up last minute things before I leave for Chicago tomorrow. David packaged up all 75 kits for me and I have them packed in my carry on bag! I wonder what the scanner people in the airport will think about that. hee,hee,hee.

Well, I'm soooooooooo excited to show you the cover of my new book! The floss will be on the back cover and the bunny on the front. My graphic designer Trish used "The Scarborough Hares" pattern and my Valdani 3 strand floss collection. I think she did a fantastic job. I love it!

Now we're working on the inside pages. It has to be ready and to the printer by August 1st in order for me to get it back by early October. Needless to say, between the book and Chicago I have been working 16 hours a day since the end of April. This explains why I haven't been commenting on and visiting blogs. Please know I love you and miss you and will by for a visit soon!

Alrighty then, onto our Mid Month Madness winner. The random number generator selected #99 out of 194 entries. So the winner is Laurie of West Texas Threads! Send me your address Laurie and I'll post your felt to you right away. Congratulations!

Just a note that I won't be back here with a blog post until next Wednesday, the 26th. I will be posting photos from Chicago on my Facebook page, (see the right sidebar for link and "Like" my page for updates) so you can hop over their for a peek. I promise to show you lots of photos here when I return. Stay tuned for a special offer on my Fabled Fusions book too. :)

Monday, June 17, 2013

Hi ya! I hope you had a fun weekend. It was gorgeous here in NC. I spent some time stitching on the back porch and finished up my "Lord and Lady Bugs." hee,hee,hee. That still makes me laugh.

Here it is! I'm really thrilled with how it turned out. It makes me smile! David is making the hanger for it so I'll show you another photo soon.

Each bug is it's own quilt.

Then the four quilts are attached with the floating leaves and the center flower. (A special thanks to Captain for cutting out the bug parts and leaves for me. So nice to have helpers!)

The center flower is actually what I'll be teaching in Chicago! Yep. I'll be teaching on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Each workshop is only an hour. It's $10 and that includes the complete kit. Fun!

I'll also be participating in Open Studio's on Saturday and Sunday. There are 4 "studio's" as you enter the festival. There, artists will be demonstrating techniques and chatting with festival goers. I'll be showing all the pieces from my new book, Fabled Fusions and giving a demo on Folk Art Fusion (TM).

OK, I've told you about the bugs and about Chicago. So what's this about a hat? Well, I've had lots of emails from bloggy friends who will be attending the show. They all want to know how to find me. After all, it's a big show with lots and lots of happy quilters running around. Plus, David and my friend, Lydia, always say they can NEVER find me in a store. They say I'm too short and blend in with the clothes racks. LOL!

So how do you find a short, crazy, bunny, lady, at a quilt show? You look for the bunny hat of course!

I found this absolutely fun and fabulous hat from Angie of Little Miss Hattitude. The minute I saw it in her shop, I knew it would be perfect! Thanks so much Angie! (She is such a doll! Hop over and visit her.)

I'll be around the show Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10-2. I truly hope I get to meet you and hug your neck! :)

Don't forget to sign up for the giveaway on the post below. See ya back here on Wednesday.

Saturday, June 15, 2013

I've been running around like a mad bunny getting ready for the International Quilt Festival in Chicago. I leave next week. Be sure and hop over here on Monday for the details. I'm so excited!

Until then, I wanted to share to share this fun project with you. The Quilt Festival folks will be collecting and selling 4" x 6" recipe-art-cards to benefit the Chicago Food Bank. I think this is a wonderful thing to do, so I set out to create my card.

OK...so you know around here almost everything is "bunny" related. I can't help it. It's just happens. So I decided to create a "Honey Bun" recipe card. Get it? Honey Bun? hee,hee,hee. Don't you just love his bee cardigan? I crack myself dorky self up!

My friend, Lydia, helped me find a quick and easy recipe that would fit on the back of the card. Thanks Lyd!! I printed the recipe onto a sheet of the inkjet fabric. You can purchase it at most craft stores and their are also tutorials for making your own.

Of course, I have given credit to the recipe creator, Tricia Goss, on the back of the card. It's important to give credit to the creators of things and not act like we come up with every fabulous idea ourselves. That is naughty. Besides, your head would explode from being so big with all that fabulousness. hee,hee,hee.

The recipe card is made exactly like the postcards we have been making. I didn't make kits up for this one simply because I don't have time and basically, you can use scraps of wool that you have left over. You can also use fabrics if you don't have wool. However; the pattern is FREE for you to use and you can hop over HERE to get it. I think these would make really cute hostess gifts. Don't you?

I also want to take a minute to tell you that the bunnies and I are, once again, delighted to be sponsors for the Pets on Quilts Blog Hop.

You can hop over HERE and read more about it. We always love to see the wonderful pet quilts featured each year.

Alrighty then, onto our giveaway!

This month's prize is eight, yes eight, 20" x 22" pieces of National Nonwovens Xotic Felt. This is the Botanical Collection. It is a blend of bamboo and rayon. It's soooooooooo soft!

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment on this post. As always, if you are signed up as a follower (right sidebar) you will receive two chances. Our giveaways are always open to friends around the world. We love having you with us!

The random number generator will select the winner next Wednesday, June 19.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Did the title of this post get you? "What's up doc?" hee,hee,hee. Funny how things will fit together sometimes.

For instance, here is a sneaky peeky of my "Lord and Lady Bugs" Folk Art Fusion (TM) piece. David and I do looooooove watching Downton Abbey. Do you? After listening to them say "my lord and my lady" half a dozen times, the idea for this piece hopped into my head. I doodled my idea on a piece of paper. I can't wait to show you the finished piece. Yep, it will be in my book. I'll also be teaching that flower in Chicago! More on that Monday.

So now, let's talk about the bunny. Remember my limited litter a few months ago? My super talented friend Donna, of Brynwood Needleworks, made the most adorable wool, bunny, pincushions. They sold out lickety split. I've had many people ask me if there was a patternso I told Donna she should make it into a pattern. Guess what? She did!

She is selling the PDF (instant download, no shipping, get it now, make it now) pattern on Craftsy! Woo hoo! So hop over HERE and check it out. Of course I love it. It's a Bunny! His name is Harris. He's a relative of Harrington's. ;)

Alrighty then. Now you know why the title to this post is is Bugs and a Bunny. Like Bugs Bunny. Get it? It's ok if you don't get it. It just means you aren't as dorky as I am. If you do get it, you're in my club. Haaaaaaaaaa!

No post this Friday. Instead it will be on Saturday for Mid Month Madness! I've got something fun to share with you and of course there will be a giveaway. Prizes are fun!

Monday, June 10, 2013

Hi there! How was your weekend? Mine was very productive. Lots of fun things in the works.

I've had some requests to see my house and how I decorate, so today seemed like a good day to take a break from the "quilting world" and visit the "decorating world." I believe a home should reflect the people who live there. Well, I don't think you will have any problem seeing who I am. ;)

My living room.

Looking into the living room, foyer and dining room from my kitchen. When I built the house, I wanted an open floor plan. It's great for entertaining. You may notice I don't have a lot of rugs. I really hate carpet and rugs and vacuuming! It's easier to run the floor duster around on hardwood.

The Foyer.

The Dining Room.

The guest bedroom. That's a king sized bed. The window has a view to the pond behind us.

Lots of reading material in the guest room along with gifts from very dear friends.

My "friends" entrance to the house. Nobody comes to our front door unless they are selling something. I always wanted a side door for friends.

My bedroom. You saw pictures of this the other week.

Here's another view

and one more.

My office with a desk full of a paperwork as usual! Ick, gag, puke!

Bunnyville. The happiest place on earth! :)

Harrington and Hannah's corner office.

And finally, the outside. The house is named Rosewood Cottage. David and I built it in 2001 as our ten year anniversary gift to each other. I do love my Carolina blue skies. David get's all the credit for the yard. If I had to do it, it would be dead. I'm a terrible gardener.

I hope you enjoyed this little tour. See you back here on Wednesday with some Folk Art Fusion (TM) stuff.

Friday, June 7, 2013

Today I thought I would share what it is to be the "Boss" of Bunnyville.

First, one must encourage the employees to snuggle under the sewing table.

Second, one must say, several times a day, "I love those footies and I want to kiss them!"

Third, one must say, "Come over here and let me get the loose hair off your butt."

Fourth, one must say, "Have you gone poo poo in the potty? Did you make nice poo poo's? Let me see it."

Fifth, one must say, "Have you had enough hay snacks today? You should have more. It's good for your bellies."

Finally, one must say, "I love you to the moon and back. You are the best employees in the entire world. You make my heart melt. You bring me joy. You make me smile. My life is so beautiful because you are in it."

Please note that the above comments may not be "politically correct" in most places of business. In fact, you may get sued if you repeat them to your employees. ;)